Grossell calls on Walz to set clear end-date for emergency powers
ST. PAUL, MN — Ahead of an expected announcement this week by Governor Walz loosening Minnesota's COVID restrictions, House Republicans are calling for transparent and concrete dates and/or metrics for the end of the peacetime emergency. Just this week, Florida lifted all remaining COVID restrictions, and Governors of Democrat states like New York and California have established target dates for the lifting of capacity limits and other COVID restrictions. Other deep-blue states like Connecticut lifted capacity limits starting as far back as March.
"Governor Walz has ruled as a tyrant over Minnesotans for far too long and it is time to join other, even deep-blue, states in opening our state and giving up his emergency powers," said Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook. "If the State Fair is on "pretty close to normal" in August and thousands are allowed at sporting events, it's clear the emergency of COVID is over. Drop restrictions on businesses, return legislating power to the legislature, and let's get back to normal living. It's long past time."
House Republicans have voted more than a dozen times to end the peacetime emergency, and have put forward numerous proposals to end or modify the Governor's Chapter 12 powers, as well as proposals to establish timelines and metrics that would end the peacetime emergency. Democrats have refused to advance those proposals in the House, and have even stonewalled proposals from their own party to wind down the Governor's emergency powers.
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